Toy vehicle system featuring pivotable toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

Several toy vehicle systems each featuring a toy vehicle capable of simulating a dragster wheelie. The vehicle has a forward portion and a two part rearward portion with one part being fixed to the forward portion and the other part being pivotally connected relative the forward portion. When the two parts are engaged, the moment of force of the rearward portion is greater than that of the forward portion, relative a pivot axis, causing the forward portion to assume an upwardly slanted position. When the two parts are not engaged, the forward portion is in a generally horizontal position. Launching mechanisms are provided for constraining the vehicle in a horizontal position even through the the two parts are engaged. Once the vehicle separates from the launching mechanism, the vehicle will do a wheelie. Connectors are also provided which bias the vehicle between its two positions.

United States Patent [151 3,702,037

Toy et al. 1 Nov. 7, 1972 [54] TOY VEHICLE SYSTEM FEATURING Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene PIVOTABLE TOY VEHICLE Inventors: Raymond M. Toy; John C. Parker, both of Los Angeles; Brian S. Prodger, Torrance, all of Calif.

Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 117,269

US. Cl ..46/201 Int. Cl. ..A63h 11/10 Field of Search ....46/201, 214, 202, 223; 180/1,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/ 1920 Lovington ..46/201 7/1945 Haselton ..;...46/201 2/1941 Voorheis .46/20l ll/l063 Thorson ..46/201 X Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [57] ABSTRACT Several toy vehicle systems each featuring a toy vehicle capable of simulating a dragster wheelie. The vehicle has a forward portion and a two part rearward portion with one part being fixed to the forward portion and the other part being pivotally connected relative the forward portion. When the two parts are engaged, the moment of force of the rearward portion is greater than that of the forward portion, relative a pivot axis,

' causing the forward portion to assume an upwardly slanted position. When the two parts are not engaged, the forward portion is in a generally horizontal position. Launching mechanisms are provided for constraining the vehicle in a horizontal position even through the the two parts are engaged. Once the vehicle separates from the launching mechanism, the vehicle will do a wheelie. Connectors are also provided which bias the vehicle between its two positions.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures TOY VEHICLE SYSTEM FEATURING PIVOTABLE TOY VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toy vehicle system and, more particularly, to a toy vehicle system featuring a pivotable toy vehicle for simulating a real dragster automobile having the capability of performing a wheelie; that is, having the front portion of the automobile raised upwardly off the ground upon being accelerated.

2. Description of the Prior Art Small toy vehicles have become exceedingly popular among small children. These vehicles are usually sold in sets including extruded synthetic resin track sections which allow various track layouts to be constructed. A very popular form of toy vehicle is the miniature automobile having-a metal body and riding on freely rotatable wheels, as more clearly described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,981 to H. W. La Branche et al. The track sections of the set are of brightly colored material having a running surface and two oppositely disposed guide flanges for guiding the toy vehicle along the running surface. The track sections also include depending flanges which provide a channel-shaped receptacle for receiving track section connectors to .allow easy connection of abutting track sections. The track system is more fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,999 to A. W. B. Nash et al. More recently, newer self-powered toy vehicle has appeared. By selfpowered, it is meant a vehicle with a small motor directly connected to the rear wheels and having a rechargeable battery for energizing the motor.

A combination of small toy vehicles with freely rotatable wheels and especially self-powered vehicles and various shaped track sections make for an extremely exciting toy vehicle system. Frequently, added to this system are various accessories, such as curves, loops, starting gates, finish gates, speed indicators, lap counters, power boosters etc. In order to increase excitement and to offer greater versatility to imaginative children, endeavorsarebeing made to provide additional accessories and a greater variety of different types of vehicles. For instance, attention has been drawn to automobile racing which over the years has become an exciting spectator sport. Automobile racing of the type exemplified by the Indianapolis 500 race and the Le Mans roadrace offer an example of exciting long distance automobile racing. Another type is the short distance drag race. In this type of race, vehicles are driven down a measured, relatively short course with the winner being that vehicle which first crosses the finish line after accelerating from a stopped idling position.

Some newer types of dragsters are designed to perform a wheelie. A wheelie is occasioned by a vehicle having a relatively light front end which is lifted off the ground due to a high torque being applied to the rear wheels, such as during the initial acceleration phase of a race. Duplicating such a vehicle in a reliable and rugged toy is a difficult and sometime impossible task.

Of course, it is to be understood that to be commercially successful with any new toy, it is required that the toy not only be simply constructed and rugged but also SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an exciting toy while fulfilling the objectives mentioned hereinabove by furnishing a toy vehicle system for simulating a dragster wheelie comprising a vehicle including an articulated vehicle body having a pivot axis, an axle extending along the pivot axis and connected to the body, two wheels connected to the axle to either side of the body, a weighted portion forming part of the body and being pivotally connected, and means forming part of the body for selectively engaging the weighted portion whereby the vehicle is in a generally horizontal position when the weighted portion is not in engagement with the engaging means, and the vehicle is in an upwardly slanted position when the weighted portion is engaged by the engaging means; and a starting mechanism including a base, and means connected to the base for retaining the toy vehicle in the generally horizontal position whereby the vehicle moves to the upwardly slanted position after separating from the starting mechanism.

The invention also includes a toy vehicle system for simulating a dragster wheelie comprising the vehicle described above and including a track section connector having two spaced apart projections for biasing the vehicle to the upwardly slanted position, a track section connector having a centrally located projection for biasing the vehicle to the generally horizontal position, and a plurality of track sections providing a running surface for the vehicle. In broaderlanguage, the toy vehicle comprises a vehicle body having a forward position and a rearward portion, means connected to the body for movably supporting the body along a base surface, and means connected to the body and the supporting means for providing a pivot axis positioned, so that the moment of force of the rearward portion of the body is greater than the moment of .force of the forward portion. The invention also includes unique starting mechanisms as well as the individual track section connectors.

It is the general aim of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle system which is exciting, simply constructed and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle system which is rugged, reliable and closely analogous to a real dragster racing situation.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a pivotable toy vehicle which is simply constructed, has few moving parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and yet closely simulates a real dragster having the capability of performing a wheelie.

Still another aim of the present invention is to provide unique track section connectors and toy vehicle starting mechanisms which cooperate with the pivota-' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS and a launching mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 immediately prior to being biased to the upwardly slanted position.

- FIG6 is an elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 immediately prior to being biased to the generally horizontal position.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1

r and another embodiment of a launching mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 and still another embodiment of a launching mechanism.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 and yet another embodiment of a launching mechanism. Y I

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a track section connector used to bias the vehicle of FIG. 1 to its generally horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a track section connector used to bias the vehicle of FIG. 1 to an upwardly slanted position as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a partially broken away elevational view of another embodiment of a pivotable vehicle in a generally horizontal position.

FIG. 13 is a partially broken away elevational view of the FIG. 12 embodiment in an upwardly slanted posi-' tion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in, detail. It should be understood,.however, that it is not the intention to limit the inventionto the particular forms disclosed; but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. .1, there is illustrated a track system 10 including two track sections 11 and 12 which are connected by a track section connector (not shown) as described in the above-mentioned Nash et al. patent. The track section 11 includes a support porlayouts which also may include any one or more of the accessories mentioned hereinabove.

- Positioned on the running surface 14 of the track section 11 is a pivotable toy vehicle 26 having a body 28, a front set of small wheels 30 and 32 mounted to an axle 31 and a rear set of large wheels 34 and 36. The vehicle includesa simulated engine 38 positioned just forward of a simulated drivers head 40. A third pair of small support wheels areprovided of which only support'wheel 42 of said pair is illustrated in FIG. 1. As mentioned earlier, the vehicle v26 simulates a real dragster automobile having a relatively light-weight front end where the front wheels, analogous to the wheels 30 and 32, appear to be not too dissimilar from bicycle wheels, while the rear or driving wheels, analogous to the wheels 34 and 36, are relatively wide to provide the required traction. In order .to enhance traction of the real dragster, the driver and the engine are situated as close as possible to the wide rear wheels. Since dragsters are designed to travel very quickly over a relatively short distance from a standing start, it is imperative that the engine produce a large amount of torque to the driving wheels and that the driving wheels have sufficient traction to convert the torque to forward motion of the vehicle. Because of the weight distribution, when the torque is delivered to the rear wheels there is a tendency for the front portion of the vehicle to lift from the ground, so that the dragster performs a wheelie. Often the dragster will move down the race course for a considerable distance before the front portion of the. vehicle returns to the ground. It is this wheelie characteristic that is simulated as closely as possible in a simply constructed, yet rugged and inexpensive toy vehicle.

As'already mentioned, an important aspect of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle which simulates a dragster having the capability of performing ,a wheelie, while at the same time providing a rugged,

inexpensive vehicle having few moving parts which, nevertheless, will perform reliably even'though subjected to'normal abusive treatment by a child. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the toy vehicle body is divided into a forward portion 44 and a rearward portion 46 which for purposes of definition are to the right and left, respectively, of a pivot axis coincident with the longituginal axis of a shaft 48 connected to and extending thr ugh the'vehicle; the axle provides support for the large rear wheels 34 and 36. To achieve the desired vehicle characteristics, the rearward portion 46 has a greater moment of force about the axle 48 than does the forward portion 44. It is to be noted, however, that the rearward portion is divided into two parts, a weighted part 50 and an engagement part 52 which is integrally connected to the forward portion 44. A pin 54 pivotally connects the weighted part 50 to the remainder of the vehicle body. The weighted part inand is a portion of the engagement part 52.

By comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, it is noted that the forward portion 44 of the vehicle is movable between two positions, a lowered or generally horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 2, and a raised or upwardly slanted wheelie position, as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, the engagement part 52 and the weighted part 50 are relatively pivotable about the pin 54 from a position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the latching arm 58 abuts a bumper 60 but does not make a cooperative engagement with the weighted part to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the latching arm 58 has been received within the opening 56 of the weighted part and engaged to a bottom surface 62. Because the moment of force of the rearward portion 46 is greater than that of the forward portion 44, engagement of the weighted portion and the latching arm 58 will cause a rotation of the forward portion 44 about the axle 48 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In one particular embodiment, the forward portion of the vehicle had a moment of force of 5.81 gram inches, while the rearward portion had a moment force of 6.62 gram inches. These moments were, of course, a result of the particular dimensions and weight of the exemplary embodiment.

The support wheels such as the pair of wheels 42 are rotatably connected to two support arms such as support arm 64 which in turn are pivotally connected to the weighted part 50, such as by the pin 66. To insure engagement of the latching arm and the weighted part, a spring 68 is connected to the rearward portion and the drivers head 40 to bias the latching arm into an engaging position by pivoting the integral driver's hea and latching arm about a pin 70.

It is also pointed out that while only one wheel 42 could be used so that the vehicle will be in a tricycle support in the wheelie position, it has been found that to best simulate an actual full-size wheelie, a pair of wheels 42 should be provided as disclosed herein. For optimum stability and guidance, the spacing of this pair of wheels 42 should also correspond to the spacing of the pair of wheels 30 and 32, and 34 and 36 so as to best utilize the guide flanges 16 and 18 of the track section 11.

To illustrate the simplicity of operation of the toy vehicle, reference is made to FIGS. 5 and 6 where the vehicle 28 is depicted moving along a track system a. The forward portion 44 is in the horizontal position with both the front set and rear set of wheels moving along the track system running surface. It is noted that the latching arm 58 is not in operable engagement with the weighted part 50.

The moment of force of the engagement part 52 alone is less than the moment of force of the forward position 44; since the weighted part is supported by the arms 64 and the wheels 42, unless there is an operable engagement between the parts 50 and 52, the vehicle will remain in the horizontal position.

The forward portion of the vehicle includes a depending flange 72 which is engageable by a projection 74 of a track section connector 76 to cause the forward portion of the vehicle to be biased upwardly to the position shown in dotted line in FIG. 5 which also causes the downward movement of the latching arm 58 so that engagement may be made with the weighted part 50, as shown in solid line in FIG. 6. As the vehicle moves along the track system, another track section connector 78 having a projection 80 may be provided to abut the latching arm 58 to cause its disengagement from the weighted part. Once a disengagement occurs, the forward portion of the vehicle having a greater moment of force than the .engagement part 52 will return to a generally horizontal position, as shown in dotted line in FIG. 6.

Another important aspect of the present invention is the provision of simply constructed and designed track section connectors which function as described in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6 to bias the pivotable vehicle between its horizontal and upwardly slanted positions. Referring now to FIG. 11, the track section connector 76 includes a flat elongated strip which is receivable within the channel-shaped receptacle formed, for example, by the depending flanges 20, 22, FIG. 1, and the bottom surface 24. Integral with the strip are two spaced upstanding projections 74 and 92 which engage the depending flange 72 of the vehicle. (The depending flange 72 is formed of two parts to correspond to the projections 74 and 92.)' Because of the rearwardly slanting disposition of the flange and the peakeddesign of the projections, an upward biasing force is provided upon abutment without causing a substantial retardation of the forward movement of the vehicle. In a similar manner, the track section connector 78 is comprised of a'flat elongated strip 94 having a centrally disposed projection 80. This projection engages the latching arm 58, as shown in FIG. 6, to move it out of engagement with the weighted part 50. It is to be noted that the projections 74 and. 92 of the connector 76 are spaced, so that they will align differently than the projection 80 of the connector 78. By corresponding placements of the depending flange 72 and the latching arm 58 of the vehicle, the desired abutments will take place without interfering with each other. The connectors 76 and 78 may be made very inexpensively by a simple molding operation of a suitable synthetic resin, such as polypropylene.

Another embodiment of a pivotable vehicle is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The vehicle includes a body 280 having a forward portion 44a and a rearward portion 46a, a front set of small wheels of which wheel 32a is illustrated, and a set of larger rear wheels of which wheel 36a is depicted in dotted line mounted to an axle 48a. The rearward portion 46a is divided into an upper part and a lower part 102; the lower part is-weighted and supported by a set of small wheels of which wheel 42a is shown.

It is important to note that the weighted lower part 102 is supported at one end by the support wheels 42a and pivoted by a pin 104 to the remainder of the body at a location spaced from the axle 48a. The axle 48a acts as the pivot axis of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 12, the pivot pin 104 is located forward (to the left) of the axle 48a, so that in this position the moment of force of the rearward portion 46a is less than the moment of force of the forward portion 48a of the vehicle thereby insuring a horizontal position for the forward portion. However, as shown in FIG. 13, when the pivot pin 104 is located rearwardly (to the right) of the axle 48a, the moment of force of the rearward portion is greater than that of the forward portion, so that the forward portion will assume an upwardly slanted position as shown. In theory, by shifting a force from one side of a pivot axis to the other, sometimes referred to as going to an over-center position, there is a shift of the moments of force involved.

In operation, a depending flange 72a is abutable with the projection 92 of the connector 76 causing an upward movement of the forward portion 44a. This causes the pivot location 104 to move from its position shown in FIG. 13 relative the axle 48a to the position shown in FIG. 13, that is, to move over center causing a shift in the moments of force. Thus, once the pivot pin 104 has moved to the location shown inFIG. 13, the vehicle becomes stable in that position and will remain with the forward portion 44 upwardly slanteduntilan external biasing force is provided to change the situation. This biasing force may be accomplished by abutment of a depending flange 108 and the projection 80 of the connector 78. Abutment of the flangeand the projection will cause the pivot pin 104 to. move over center once again to the position shown in FIG. 12

which will stabilize the vehicle in the horizontal position.

Another important aspect of the present invention is to provide a launching mechanism which will cooperate with a pivotable vehicle to closely simulate the start of a drag race. The mechanism provided is simply constructed, reliable, easily operated and depressed to disengage the base 112 and allow it to.

move under the-influence of the-biasing spring 114. The pusher arm 120 is'formed to have a shoulder 122 mateable with a bottom surface 124 of the rearward portion of the vehicle. If the vehicle is preset by an operator so that the weighted part 50 is in engagement with the latching arm 58, the moment of force of the rearward portion 46 will be greater than the moment of forceof the forward portion 44. However, by having the bottom surface 124 abut the shoulder 122, the pusher arm 120 will support the vehicle in a horizontal position. Once the launching mechanism is activated, the pusher arm will impart motion to the vehicle during which time the abutment between the surface 124 and 122 will continue. However, once the pusher arm has reached the limit of its travel, the vehicle 26 will separate from the pusher arm so that the vehicle will be free to assume its upwardly slanted stable position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a launching mechanism 129 having the force exerted by gravity. A launching mechanism 140 is comprised of a base 142 and a pivotable plate 144. The plate includes a central opening 146 through which the nose 148 of the vehicle is entrapped. As explained with the FIGS. 4 and 7 embodiments, the weighted part 50 is engaged to the latching arm 58 so that the stable position of the vehicle would require a base 130 which is connected at one end to a biasing v spring 132 and at the other end to a latch arm 134. The latch arm in turn is connected to an actuator button 136. Connection is made between the base and the vehicle by a hook portion 138 which engages the depending flange 72 so as to retain the vehicle in a horizontal position. Like the operation described for the FIG. 4 embodiment, the vehicle will be held in a horizontal position until separation occurs allowing the vehicle to assume its stable position in response to the moments of force acting about the pivot axis. It is noted that both the FIG. 4 embodiment and the FIG. 7 embodimentare of power type launching mechanisms, so that the vehicle can be launched along a level surface closely simulating the start of a real drag race. With both embodiments, the vehicle will perform a wheelie shortly after activation of the system by the operator.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, gravity launching mechanisms are illustrated. In FIG. 8, the vehicle 26 is positioned on a track system 10c which is placed in a sloping position, so that the vehicle will be powered by that the'forward portion 44 be in an upwardly slanted position. However, by constraining the nose l48-within the opening 146, the vehicle is restrained in the horizontal position. To start the vehicle, the plate 144 is rotated about the base 142 freeing the vehicle. Upon being freed, the vehicle will begin to assume an upwardly slanted position while at the same time accelerating down the slope of the track system 10c.

The FIG. 9 embodiment functions in much the same way as the FIG. 8 embodiment, except that the starting mechanism 149 includes a base 150 and a retaining wall 152. The retaining wall .includes a shoulder 154 which engages a slightly recessed bottom surface 124a of the vehicle. As in the FIG. 4 embodiment, the engagement prevents the vehicle from assuming the upwardly slanted position which would be the stable position when the weighted part is engaged by the latching arm. The wall 152 is connected to the base 150 by an integral hinge 156 which is formed by reducing the thickness of the material of the launching mechanism at a localized region so as to make it more flexible than the remainder of the mechanism. Thus, the launching mechanism shown in FIG. 9 may be inexpensively molded as a one piece unit. Once the wall 152 is rotated downwardly in a clockwise direction, the vehicle 26 will being its descent along a sloped track system 1011 while assuming the upwardly slanted position as the vehicle attempts to move to its stable position. Itis to be notedthat because of the initial downward movement caused by the sloping track system, the vehicle may not reach its upwardly slanted position until the track system becomes horizontal.

It is to be understood that while a miniature automobile is shown as a pivotable toy vehicle, other types of toy vehicles may bev constructed to perform the pivoting motion described. For example, miniature toy motorcycles having freely rotatable wheels are being marketed and may be designed to perform a wheelie. It is also to be understood that the wheels for supporting the vehicle along the track system may be replaced with other means for movably supporting a body along a surface; for example, small skids may be used for this purpose.

Reviewing briefly, the operation of the toy vehicle system shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 8 and 9 requires that the weighted part be engaged with the latching arm, so that the vehicle will have a greater moment of force existing at its rearward portion than at its forward portion. Next, the vehicle is placed on the launching mechanism and constrained in a generally horizontal position. once the launching mechanism is activated by the operator, the inherent instability of the vehicle will cause it to move to the upwardly slanted position, (except perhaps with the gravity operated systems). The connectors 76 and 78, FIGS. 10 and 11, may be used in conjunction with the launching mechanism, for example, to return the vehicle to a horizontal position. Or the connectors may be used with an ordinary launching mechanism where the vehicles are not initially in an unstable position, so that the wheelie movement does not occur until contact with the connector 76.

The vehicle may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as metal and synthetic resins.

We claim:

A pivotable toy vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said rearward portion of said vehicle body being divided into first and second parts pivotally joined to each other. and said first part being fixedly attached to said forward portion;

means connected to said body for movably supporting said body along a base surface; and

means connected to said body and said supporting means for providing a pivot axis positioned so that said body is. greater than the moment of force of said forward portion.

2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes a first set of wheels rotatable about said pivot axis and a support wheel for supporting said rearward portion.

3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said first part of said rearward portion includes a latching arm; and

said second part includes means for receiving said latching arm, said first and second parts being pivotable between engaged and disengaged positions.

4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said forward portion of said vehicle body is pivotable between raised and lowered positions, whereby said forward portion is in its lowered position when said first and second parts are in said disengaged position and said forward portion is in its raised position when said first and second parts are in said engaged position.

5. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said arm of said first part is pivotally connected to said rearward portion; and including means connected to said arm for biasing said arm into engagement with said second part.

6. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said location of the pivotal joint of said first and second parts is movable from a position forward of said pivot axis to a position rearward of said pivot axis; and r said forward'portion is movable between a raised position and-a loweredposition whereby said forward portion is in its raised position when said pivotal joint is in its rearward position and said forward portion is in its lowered position when said pivotal joint is in its forward position. 1

7. A toy vehicle having a pivotable body comprising:

a body having forward and rearward portions, said rearward portion including a pivotally connected weighted part movable relative said forward portion, and a latch part movable relative said weighted part and selectively engageable with said weighted part;

a first set of wheels mounted to a first axle, said axle connected to said body and forming a pivot axis; a second set of wheels mounted to a second axle, said second axle connected to said forward portion;

and a support wheel pivotally connected to said body for supporting said rearward portion. 8. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said forward portion is movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said forward portion being in said raised position when said latch part is engaged with said weighted part and said forward portion being in said lowered position when said latch part is disengaged from said weighted part. 9. A toy vehicle which is pivotable between a generally horizontal position and an upwardly slanted position comprising:

an articulated vehicle body having a pivot axis; an axle extending along said pivot axis and connected to the body; two wheels connected to said axle to either side of said body; a weighted portion forming part of said body an being pivotally connected; and v I means forming part of said body for selectively engaging said weighted portion whereby said vehicle is in said generally horizontal position when said weighted portion is not in engagement with said engaging means, and said vehicle is in said upwardly slanted position when said weighted portion is engaged by said engaging means. 

1. A pivotable toy vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said rearward portion of said vehicle body being divided into first and second parts pivotally joined to each other. and said first part being fixedly attached to said forward portion; means connected to said body for movably supporting said body along a base surface; and means connected to said body and said supporting means for providing a pivot axis positioned so that the moment of force of said rearward portion of said body is greater than the moment of force of said forward portion.
 2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes a first set of wheels rotatable about said pivot axis and a support wheel for supporting said rearward portion.
 3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first part of said rearward portion includes a latching arm; and said second part includes means for receiving said latching arm, said first and second parts being pivotable between engaged and disengaged positions.
 4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said forward portion of said vehicle body is pivotable between raised and lowered positions, whereby said forward portion is in its lowered position when said first and second parts are in said disengaged position and said forward portion is in its raised position when said first and second parts are in said engaged position.
 5. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said arm of said first part is pivotally connected to said rearward portion; and including means connected to said arm for biasing said arm into engagement with said second part.
 6. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said location of the pivotal joint of said first and second parts is movable from a position forward of said pivot axis to a position rearward of said pivot axis; and said forward portion is movable between a raised position and a lowered position whereby said forward portion is in its raised position when said pivotal joint is in its rearward position and said forward portion is in its lowered position when said pivotal joint is in its forward position.
 7. A toy vehicle having a pivotable body comprising: a body having forward and rearward portions, said rearward portion including a pivotally connected weighted part movable relative said forward portion, and a latch part movable relative said weighted part and selectively engageable with said weighted part; a first set of wheels mounted to a first axle, said axle connected to said body and forming a pivot axis; a second set of wheels mounted to a second axle, said second axle connected to said forward portion; and a support wheel pivotally connected to said body for supporting said rearward portion.
 8. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said forward portion is movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said forward portion being in said raised position when said latch part is engaged with said weighted part and said forward portion being in said lowered position when said latch part is disengaged from said weightEd part.
 9. A toy vehicle which is pivotable between a generally horizontal position and an upwardly slanted position comprising: an articulated vehicle body having a pivot axis; an axle extending along said pivot axis and connected to the body; two wheels connected to said axle to either side of said body; a weighted portion forming part of said body and being pivotally connected; and means forming part of said body for selectively engaging said weighted portion whereby said vehicle is in said generally horizontal position when said weighted portion is not in engagement with said engaging means, and said vehicle is in said upwardly slanted position when said weighted portion is engaged by said engaging means. 